The Permaculture Way

Excerpt from review by Annie Casey in the3rdimagazine
This is an immediately impressive book, written by Graham Bell. The cover tells us that the foreword is written by David Bellamy and the introduction by Bill Mollinson, who with David Holmgren, coined the word permaculture and gave the world a vision for ‘rebuilding sustainable and ecologically benign human settlements’ in 1974.

This book, more than any other I have read, did not leave me feeling overwhelmed and wondering where to start. Rather, it provided the necessary impetus that we all need, to take charge of our lives so that we can provide for our basic needs without causing the planet any more harm.

“I bought the original publication of this book (in 1994)and it has been a wonderful resource of ideas, plans and solutions, My own copy is full of notes and marks, very worn now!
At the time it seemed revolutionary. This book is even more relevant now. Even if you have been emersed in permaculture/green/ecological for the last 20 years it is still a must read, a seminal book.”

“At the 2002 Johannesburg World Summit for Sustainable Development, one resolution was to declare a Decade for Education on Sustainable Development starting in 2005. We must now start thinking about what should be included in the new curriculum. Permaculture should definitely be included. If you want to move away from the consumerist lifestyle; if you want to live by more enduring values; if you are looking for answers to the question ‘What can I do about curing our world?’; if you are looking for ways to improve your health and to live more harmoniously with nature; if you agree with Edmund Burke that “for the triumph of evil it is only necessary that good men do nothing”; then this well may be the book you have been looking for. This book should be in the library of everyone interested in building a better world. ”

“I have a few permaculture books and I would definitely recommend this as a great place to start understanding the principles underlying both permaculture and the transition movement towards achieving greater independence from the state and creating beneficial relationships with your surrounding neighbours, businesses and natural resources.”

“Permaculture is not just about growing stuff in your garden or on your allotment. Permaculture is about sustainable living, caring for the land, caring for people and sharing abundance. Graham’s thoughtful and informative book covers all aspects of permaculture – and more besides. I cannot recommend this book highly enough for growers and thinkers and humans. ”

“This is a book which provides an easy entry into permaculture. Graham Bell has done a great job in making the philosophy and action required, of permaculture, accessible. Entertaining in its own right, this makes you want to get stuck in and live your life the permaculture way. ”

David Bellamy starts his preface with these words. “I have four books in my library which form the cornerstones of my hope for the future: Marcus Porcius Cato’s ‘Treatise on Agriculture’ (about 160 AD); Robert Sharrock’s ‘History of the Propagation and Improvement of Vegetables by the Concurrence of Art and Nature’ (1660); Hans Jenny’s ‘The Soil Resource’ (1980); and Bill Mollison’s ‘permaculture’ (1988). I can now add this book to the collection, for it is of great importance. This is a spring-board text, which relaunches the wisdom of almost twenty centuries into the arena where it is most needed and from which it can be most effective – the rich countries of the temperate world.”